Rene Descartes mainly spent most of his lifetime researching in the Dutch Republic. There he made many discoveries and led to the advancement of two major subject in the world. Those major subjects were mathematics and philosophy. Widely known as many things, he was respectively known as a French philosopher and physicist. Descartes was called " the father of analytical geometry". He took the world of math to another level. He invented the Cartesian coordinate system. He connected the bridge between algebra and geometry. Descartes not only widely influencing the world of mathematics, he payed a great deal of this lifetime to the world of philosophy.Descartes was categorized in natural philosophy for his own philosophical theories, Mind-body Dualism.[⁶] He had his own separate ideas, beliefs, and thoughts. Therefore in history, he was known as his own thinker. Descartes' most important theology was the existence of God. He believed God had absolute freedom in the world's creation and its living things. Using his newly profound method of doubt, he cleared up any accusations from the two major philosophy groups of his era, Aristotelian ism and the Schools, that related to God's existence. For that reason, Descartes was heavily looked down upon by the empiricist schools of thoughts, which consisted of Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley And Hume. Today, Descartes is recognized as " the father of modern day philosophy". He influential changed the way philosophers thought and felt about ideas. For that reason, philosophy today owes him a lifetime of gratitude. One of his remember able phrase " Je pense, donc je suis" meaning "I think, therefore I am; or I am thinking, therefore I exist" still lives in the minds of many great scientists,mathematicians, and philosophers today. Respected by all and hated by few, Rene Descartes greatly contributed to the world of mathematics and philosophy.[⁴][⁵]
Insight and Influences
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Rene Descartes was born and raised in La Haye, France: he was integrated into a high class family as a successor. Descartes' parents were Joachim Descartes and Jeanne Brochard. His father was a lawyer and magistrate. For that reason, Descartes was acknowledged to follow his father's footsteps. One year after giving birth to Descartes, Jeanee Brochard, his mother, died of tuberculosis. Since Joachim Descartes was a lawyer, he had very little time dedicated to his kids. Therefore, young Descartes , his full sister and brother, Jeanne and Pierre, were entrusted to their grandmother in order to be taken care of. In 1607, at the age of ten, young Descartes was sent to the Jesuit college of La Fleche. There he studied the required courses, grammar, philosophy, and mathematics. After completing his studies at the Jesuit college of La Fleche in 1614, in order to please his father, he wanted to further his knowledge in law. In the month of May, a year after his completion at Jesuit college, he attended the University of Poitier. At the university, in 1616, he acquired his Baccalaureate and License in Canon & Civil Law. Descartes was living up to his father's expectations.[¹][³][⁵]
Descartes was not born into the world physics. It was later in life that he was influenced by a well recognized man. It was then that his interest with physics began. It first started when Descartes was at a fine age of twenty-two. The year was 1618. Descartes had enlisted in the military army of the Prince Maurice of Nassa. His intentions were to travel the world in search for a "truth" in life. Clearly defined in his later book, Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting One's Reason and Seeking the Truth in the Sciences , of his yearned for "truth" in his researching, "I entirely abandoned the study of letters. Resolving to seek no knowledge other than that which could be found in myself or else in the great book of the world, I spent the rest of my youth traveling, visiting courts and armies, mixing with people of diverse temperaments and ranks, gathering various experiences, testing myself in the situations which fortune offered me, and at all times reflecting upon whatever came my way so as to derive some profit from it."[²][³][⁴]
While traveling with the army, Descartes met a well recognized physicist/scientist by the name of Isaac Beeckman. Beeckman was the reason behind Descartes’ fame in the world of mathematics. He was Descartes greatest childhood influence. He sparked Descartes first interest in the world of physics. He challenged Descartes by presenting mathematics applied to other fields. Fascinated by Beeckman’s knowledge, Descartes began studying under Beeckman’s guidance. Studying under Beeckman, Descartes took serious interest in mechanical problems and mathematics. Beeckman founded the answer to Descartes’ desire for the “truth” by the use of mathematics. In 1621, Descartes resigned from the army, and continued his travels independently. Settled in Paris, in 1626, Descartes lived for a period of his life awaiting for the theory of the universe to come to him. His full attention was towards the study of mathematics, science, and philosophy.[⁴] From then on, the dreams his father once had of him entering Parliament was long gone. Descartes had followed his own separate way, the path of true wisdom of the diverse countries.
Major Contributions
Rene Descartes, not only contributing to one subject, he contributed to all the major subjects in the world. He gave mathematics a new method, "analytical geometry". He connected missing links and answered questionable methods in mathematics. He also played a vital role in the invention of calculus. Therefore, mathematicians, with the aid of Descartes, cleared another road block in order for someday to finally comprehend the mysteries of algebra, geometry, and mathematics as a whole. In the world of philosophy, Descartes set a high standard in the eyes of philosophers today. He is considered as one of the most influential thinkers of his time. Today, he is declared as "The Father of Modern Philosophy". He believed in order to find "truth", one would have to become unbiased in situation. In his book Meditations, he says "If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things."[⁹]
Analytical Geometry, created by Descartes, is the link which connected algebra and geometry. Descartes' inspiration, Isaac Beeckman, was the missing key to unlock Descartes' interest in math and science. Beeckman and Descartes challenged each others ideas and beliefs. While also questioning each others theories, they both unconditionally respected each others ideas and beliefs. In 1618, while suggesting to Beeckman a more efficient way to solve his theory, Descartes applied algebraic formulas to solve geometric problems in order complete the uncompleted equation. In that same year, a section in Beeckman's journal described Descartes remarkable method of using the foundation of algebra and applying it to geometry. For that reason, Descartes was titled "the father of analytical geometry". Descartes stated every subject, mainly directed at science, used math in order to solve daily life situations, writing philosophy, and defying questionable theories of science. Therefore, he believed math and science are intertwined together and could not live without one or the other. In his eyes, math was science , and science was math. They were the same subject in his mind.[⁹]
As for philosophy, Descartes gave a great ordeal of his lifetime questioning the old century philosophy. During his time period, Scholastic-Aristotelian philosophy played an influenced on Descartes' ideas; Scholastic-Aristotelian philosophy was considered the high of the philosophical world. Descartes strongly supported the accusations of doubt. He referenced "doubt" as a false in the mind. He was one of the very first man that challenged skepticism.[¹⁰] He stated in order not to limit oneself of knowledge, one must doubt. Quoted by Rene Descartes, "The long concatenations of simple and easy reasoning which geometricians use in achieving their most difficult demonstrations gave me occasion to imagine that all matters which may enter the human mind were interrelated in the same fashion.", clearly supports his method of doubt.[⁹] Therefore, credited to Descartes, he created modern philosophy and what it stands for today. Descartes' philosophy questioned the church's existence. In that period, any questions relating to the church would be shunned or demolished by the church itself. If an event happened to disrupt the peace of the church, tragic deeds took place, which would rapidly obliterate all roots leading to the main source. For that reason, Descartes stayed in secrecy.
Affect and Effect
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A gifted child at birth, Descartes, was easily fascinated, but not persuadable. Rarely relying on experiences, Descartes states doubt blinds one's complete knowledge of life itself. Hence, he neglected the wisdom attained from knowledge by past experiences, Empiricism. Descartes was a strong and passionate man of knowledge by reasons and hard facts, Rationalism. In his book, Meditations, he respectively defines why reason and facts clears the darkened passage towards true knowledge. In one of his quote, he claims Common sense is the most fairly distributed thing in the world, for each one thinks he is so well-endowed with it that even those who are hardest to satisfy in all other matters are not in the habit of desiring more of it than they already have."[¹⁵]
Strongly opinionated, Descartes had his own separate mindset and beliefs. Descartes solving method differed from other philosophical greats.His method was unbiased and neutral. He believed that was the only right way of acquiring true knowledge from life. Descartes believed reasoning and doubt was behind the questions of life, excluding the existence of God. A man of certainty, Descartes was a Catholic. He acknowledges the existence of God. Therefore, he states philosophical judgment does not intertwine with religion. Even towards the end of his days, Descartes intentionally avoided any situations involving God's existence. In his mind, God existed in everything and was independent of any forces, beings, and theories. As a result, God's existence cannot be questioned or doubted. Therefore Referencing back to his quote, "I think, therefore, I am," and "I think, therefore there is a God!"[¹⁴], clearly proves his passionate belief in God's existence. Without thought, he acclaims, humans and life cannot exist. Hence, there is a God.[¹⁴] For that reason, Descartes' belief in the existence of God played one of the very many major influences in his life, and possibly could have limited his path towards true knowledge of the world.
Highly Influenced by a divine being, Rene Descartes also had many other influences. One major vital role to his life was not an uncountable divine being, but a influential human being. Descartes praised and highly respected this human being. This person was Sir Isaac Beeckman, a well known Dutch philosopher and scientist. Beeckman challenged Descartes philosophical ideas, and also expressively shared his own ideas. Intrigued by Beeckman, Descartes willingly studied under his influences. Thus, Beeckman was Descartes' teacher ,and Descartes was Beeckman's student. Therefore, Beeckman not only contributed to Descartes strong-willed and expressive natural philosophical ideas, he is credited to all the life-long works of Descartes.[⁴][¹³]
Rene Descartes revolutionized modern philosophy. He aided the early days of United States government based ideas and the people within it. He influenced great philosphers like John Locke, an Englishmen credited as one of the greatest influential thinkers of the 17th century in "The Enlightment" era. The Cartesian method, created by Descartes, removed all uncertainties in philosophies. As a result, today in society, people chooses to rely on facts and reasoning, rather than judgment, in order to verify their statements or philosophical ideas.[¹³][¹⁴]
Legacy
Rene Descartes was a well-known French physicist and philospher. During his lifetime, He lead to many discoveries. He answered the questions asked by
Image Courtesy of answers
many great mathematicians and philosphers of that time period. On Feburary 11, 1650, his life had come to a sudden stop. Interested in Descartes' knowledge and wisdom, Queen Christiana of Sweden, asked Descartes to come visit her and teach her his philosophy of truth. For that reason, ill Descartes had to wake up at five in the morning; It disrupted his usual sleeping schedule until noon. Hence, It worsened the health of the fragile Descartes, which ended his life of the doubtful world he depicted to live in.[¹⁰]
Descartes' death did not mean the stop of his influences on the world. After his death, he gave the modern thinkers today a pathway to new ideas and discoveries. He also drew a vivid path for mathematicians and scientists. His discovery of "analytical geometry" contributed to all the high class mathematics today. For example, Descartes indirectly benefited the discovery of "calculas" by the later great phycists, Sir Issac Newtonand Gottfried Leibeniz, and influenced great thinkers like John Locke. For that reason, Descartes is widely known in both worlds of mathematics and philosphy.
In mathematics, Descartes was known as " the father of analytical geometry". Analytical geometry involved a coordinate plane; coordinate plane called the coordinate plane system was invented also by Descartes. It linked algebra and geometry. Before his time, algebraic and geometric problems were independent subjects. But during Descartes time period, he directly related algebric and geometric problems together. Therefore, he was prized with the honorable declaration as "the father of anayltical geometry".[¹⁶]
Descartes' strong-willed and theology played the vital role to his honorary status. He used many complex equations inorder to answer the complicated questions truth, but yet, he used them so simply and easily. He created four steps. He declared these steps would solve all and any situations presented in life. In his book Discours de la Méthode, he clearly defines his four simple steps that solves and unreveals the complexity of the truth of life. " thought the following four [rules] would be enough, provided that I made a firm and constant resolution not to fail even once in the observance of them. The first was never to accept anything as true if I had not evident knowledge of its being so; that is, carefully to avoid precipitancy and prejudice, and to embrace in my judgment only what presented itself to my mind so clearly and distinctly that I had no occasion to doubt it. The second, to divide each problem I examined into as many parts as was feasible, and as was requisite for its better solution. The third, to direct my thoughts in an orderly way; beginning with the simplest objects, those most apt to be known, and ascending little by little, in steps as it were, to the knowledge of the most complex; and establishing an order in thought even when the objects had no natural priority one to another. And the last, to make throughout such complete enumerations and such general surveys that I might be sure of leaving nothing out. These long chains of perfectly simple and easy reasonings by means of which geometers are accustomed to carry out their most difficult demonstrations had led me to fancy that everything that can fall under human knowledge forms a similar sequence; and that so long as we avoid accepting as true what is not so, and always preserve the right order of deduction of one thing from another, there can be nothing too remote to be reached in the end, or to well hidden to be discovered."[¹⁶]
René Descartes
Rene Descartes mainly spent most of his lifetime researching in the Dutch Republic. There he made many discoveries and led to the advancement of two major subject in the world. Those major subjects were mathematics and philosophy. Widely known as many things, he was respectively known as a French philosopher and physicist. Descartes was called " the father of analytical geometry". He took the world of math to another level. He invented the Cartesian coordinate system. He connected the bridge between algebra and geometry. Descartes not only widely influencing the world of mathematics, he payed a great deal of this lifetime to the world of philosophy.Descartes was categorized in natural philosophy for his own philosophical theories, Mind-body Dualism.[⁶] He had his own separate ideas, beliefs, and thoughts. Therefore in history, he was known as his own thinker. Descartes' most important theology was the existence of God. He believed God had absolute freedom in the world's creation and its living things. Using his newly profound method of doubt, he cleared up any accusations from the two major philosophy groups of his era, Aristotelian ism and the Schools, that related to God's existence. For that reason, Descartes was heavily looked down upon by the empiricist schools of thoughts, which consisted of Hobbes, Locke, Berkeley And Hume. Today, Descartes is recognized as " the father of modern day philosophy". He influential changed the way philosophers thought and felt about ideas. For that reason, philosophy today owes him a lifetime of gratitude. One of his remember able phrase " Je pense, donc je suis" meaning "I think, therefore I am; or I am thinking, therefore I exist" still lives in the minds of many great scientists,mathematicians, and philosophers today. Respected by all and hated by few, Rene Descartes greatly contributed to the world of mathematics and philosophy.[⁴][⁵]
Insight and Influences
Rene Descartes was born and raised in La Haye, France: he was integrated into a high class family as a successor. Descartes' parents were Joachim Descartes and Jeanne Brochard. His father was a lawyer and magistrate. For that reason, Descartes was acknowledged to follow his father's footsteps. One year after giving birth to Descartes, Jeanee Brochard, his mother, died of tuberculosis. Since Joachim Descartes was a lawyer, he had very little time dedicated to his kids. Therefore, young Descartes , his full sister and brother, Jeanne and Pierre, were entrusted to their grandmother in order to be taken care of. In 1607, at the age of ten, young Descartes was sent to the Jesuit college of La Fleche. There he studied the required courses, grammar, philosophy, and mathematics. After completing his studies at the Jesuit college of La Fleche in 1614, in order to please his father, he wanted to further his knowledge in law. In the month of May, a year after his completion at Jesuit college, he attended the University of Poitier. At the university, in 1616, he acquired his Baccalaureate and License in Canon & Civil Law. Descartes was living up to his father's expectations.[¹][³][⁵]
Descartes was not born into the world physics. It was later in life that he was influenced by a well recognized man. It was then that his interest with physics began. It first started when Descartes was at a fine age of twenty-two. The year was 1618. Descartes had enlisted in the military army of the Prince Maurice of Nassa. His intentions were to travel the world in search for a "truth" in life. Clearly defined in his later book, Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting One's Reason and Seeking the Truth in the Sciences , of his yearned for "truth" in his researching, "I entirely abandoned the study of letters. Resolving to seek no knowledge other than that which could be found in myself or else in the great book of the world, I spent the rest of my youth traveling, visiting courts and armies, mixing with people of diverse temperaments and ranks, gathering various experiences, testing myself in the situations which fortune offered me, and at all times reflecting upon whatever came my way so as to derive some profit from it."[²][³][⁴]
While traveling with the army, Descartes met a well recognized physicist/scientist by the name of Isaac Beeckman. Beeckman was the reason behind Descartes’ fame in the world of mathematics. He was Descartes greatest childhood influence. He sparked Descartes first interest in the world of physics. He challenged Descartes by presenting mathematics applied to other fields. Fascinated by Beeckman’s knowledge, Descartes began studying under Beeckman’s guidance. Studying under Beeckman, Descartes took serious interest in mechanical problems and mathematics. Beeckman founded the answer to Descartes’ desire for the “truth” by the use of mathematics. In 1621, Descartes resigned from the army, and continued his travels independently. Settled in Paris, in 1626, Descartes lived for a period of his life awaiting for the theory of the universe to come to him. His full attention was towards the study of mathematics, science, and philosophy.[⁴] From then on, the dreams his father once had of him entering Parliament was long gone. Descartes had followed his own separate way, the path of true wisdom of the diverse countries.
Major Contributions
Rene Descartes, not only contributing to one subject, he contributed to all the major subjects in the world. He gave mathematics a new method, "analytical geometry". He connected missing links and answered questionable methods in mathematics. He also played a vital role in the invention of calculus. Therefore, mathematicians, with the aid of Descartes, cleared another road block in order for someday to finally comprehend the mysteries of algebra, geometry, and mathematics as a whole. In the world of philosophy, Descartes set a high standard in the eyes of philosophers today. He is considered as one of the most influential thinkers of his time. Today, he is declared as "The Father of Modern Philosophy". He believed in order to find "truth", one would have to become unbiased in situation. In his book Meditations, he says "If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things."[⁹]
Analytical Geometry, created by Descartes, is the link which connected algebra and geometry. Descartes' inspiration, Isaac Beeckman, was the missing key to unlock Descartes' interest in math and science. Beeckman and Descartes challenged each others ideas and beliefs. While also questioning each others theories, they both unconditionally respected each others ideas and beliefs. In 1618, while suggesting to Beeckman a more efficient way to solve his theory, Descartes applied algebraic formulas to solve geometric problems in order complete the uncompleted equation. In that same year, a section in Beeckman's journal described Descartes remarkable method of using the foundation of algebra and applying it to geometry. For that reason, Descartes was titled "the father of analytical geometry". Descartes stated every subject, mainly directed at science, used math in order to solve daily life situations, writing philosophy, and defying questionable theories of science. Therefore, he believed math and science are intertwined together and could not live without one or the other. In his eyes, math was science , and science was math. They were the same subject in his mind.[⁹]
As for philosophy, Descartes gave a great ordeal of his lifetime questioning the old century philosophy. During his time period, Scholastic-Aristotelian philosophy played an influenced on Descartes' ideas; Scholastic-Aristotelian philosophy was considered the high of the philosophical world. Descartes strongly supported the accusations of doubt. He referenced "doubt" as a false in the mind. He was one of the very first man that challenged skepticism.[¹⁰] He stated in order not to limit oneself of knowledge, one must doubt. Quoted by Rene Descartes, "The long concatenations of simple and easy reasoning which geometricians use in achieving their most difficult demonstrations gave me occasion to imagine that all matters which may enter the human mind were interrelated in the same fashion.", clearly supports his method of doubt.[⁹] Therefore, credited to Descartes, he created modern philosophy and what it stands for today. Descartes' philosophy questioned the church's existence. In that period, any questions relating to the church would be shunned or demolished by the church itself. If an event happened to disrupt the peace of the church, tragic deeds took place, which would rapidly obliterate all roots leading to the main source. For that reason, Descartes stayed in secrecy.
Affect and Effect
Strongly opinionated, Descartes had his own separate mindset and beliefs. Descartes solving method differed from other philosophical greats.His method was unbiased and neutral. He believed that was the only right way of acquiring true knowledge from life. Descartes believed reasoning and doubt was behind the questions of life, excluding the existence of God. A man of certainty, Descartes was a Catholic. He acknowledges the existence of God. Therefore, he states philosophical judgment does not intertwine with religion. Even towards the end of his days, Descartes intentionally avoided any situations involving God's existence. In his mind, God existed in everything and was independent of any forces, beings, and theories. As a result, God's existence cannot be questioned or doubted. Therefore Referencing back to his quote, "I think, therefore, I am," and "I think, therefore there is a God!"[¹⁴], clearly proves his passionate belief in God's existence. Without thought, he acclaims, humans and life cannot exist. Hence, there is a God.[¹⁴] For that reason, Descartes' belief in the existence of God played one of the very many major influences in his life, and possibly could have limited his path towards true knowledge of the world.
Highly Influenced by a divine being, Rene Descartes also had many other influences. One major vital role to his life was not an uncountable divine being, but a influential human being. Descartes praised and highly respected this human being. This person was Sir Isaac Beeckman, a well known Dutch philosopher and scientist. Beeckman challenged Descartes philosophical ideas, and also expressively shared his own ideas. Intrigued by Beeckman, Descartes willingly studied under his influences. Thus, Beeckman was Descartes' teacher ,and Descartes was Beeckman's student. Therefore, Beeckman not only contributed to Descartes strong-willed and expressive natural philosophical ideas, he is credited to all the life-long works of Descartes.[⁴][¹³]
Rene Descartes revolutionized modern philosophy. He aided the early days of United States government based ideas and the people within it. He influenced great philosphers like John Locke, an Englishmen credited as one of the greatest influential thinkers of the 17th century in "The Enlightment" era. The Cartesian method, created by Descartes, removed all uncertainties in philosophies. As a result, today in society, people chooses to rely on facts and reasoning, rather than judgment, in order to verify their statements or philosophical ideas.[¹³][¹⁴]
Legacy
Rene Descartes was a well-known French physicist and philospher. During his lifetime, He lead to many discoveries. He answered the questions asked by
Descartes' death did not mean the stop of his influences on the world. After his death, he gave the modern thinkers today a pathway to new ideas and discoveries. He also drew a vivid path for mathematicians and scientists. His discovery of "analytical geometry" contributed to all the high class mathematics today. For example, Descartes indirectly benefited the discovery of "calculas" by the later great phycists, Sir Issac Newtonand Gottfried Leibeniz, and influenced great thinkers like John Locke. For that reason, Descartes is widely known in both worlds of mathematics and philosphy.
In mathematics, Descartes was known as " the father of analytical geometry". Analytical geometry involved a coordinate plane; coordinate plane called the coordinate plane system was invented also by Descartes. It linked algebra and geometry. Before his time, algebraic and geometric problems were independent subjects. But during Descartes time period, he directly related algebric and geometric problems together. Therefore, he was prized with the honorable declaration as "the father of anayltical geometry".[¹⁶]
Descartes' strong-willed and theology played the vital role to his honorary status. He used many complex equations inorder to answer the complicated questions truth, but yet, he used them so simply and easily. He created four steps. He declared these steps would solve all and any situations presented in life. In his book Discours de la Méthode, he clearly defines his four simple steps that solves and unreveals the complexity of the truth of life. " thought the following four [rules] would be enough, provided that I made a firm and constant resolution not to fail even once in the observance of them. The first was never to accept anything as true if I had not evident knowledge of its being so; that is, carefully to avoid precipitancy and prejudice, and to embrace in my judgment only what presented itself to my mind so clearly and distinctly that I had no occasion to doubt it. The second, to divide each problem I examined into as many parts as was feasible, and as was requisite for its better solution. The third, to direct my thoughts in an orderly way; beginning with the simplest objects, those most apt to be known, and ascending little by little, in steps as it were, to the knowledge of the most complex; and establishing an order in thought even when the objects had no natural priority one to another. And the last, to make throughout such complete enumerations and such general surveys that I might be sure of leaving nothing out. These long chains of perfectly simple and easy reasonings by means of which geometers are accustomed to carry out their most difficult demonstrations had led me to fancy that everything that can fall under human knowledge forms a similar sequence; and that so long as we avoid accepting as true what is not so, and always preserve the right order of deduction of one thing from another, there can be nothing too remote to be reached in the end, or to well hidden to be discovered."[¹⁶]
Philosophy & Religion: René Descartes
Interesting Links
1.dryerasecomics ( drawing of Descartes' coordinate plane)
2.Three Minute Philosphy: Rene Descartes ( explanation of Descartes philosphcial ideas of the truth)
References
1.RENE DESCARTES (1595-1650)
2.Descartes' Life and Works
3.Rene Descartes: Early Life and Education
4.Descartes: An Overview
5.René Descartes - Psychology Wiki
6.The 17th Century
7.René Descartes (1596 - 1650)
8.Math History
9.Rene Descartes: Quotes
10.René Descartes (1596—1650): Overview
11.RENÉ DESCARTES (1596-1650)
12.Rene Descartes (1596?-1650)
13.René Descartes
14.Rene' Descartes biography
15.Rene Descartes Quotes
16.Descartes and the birth of Analytical Geometry
17.The Splendor of Life
18.Suite101
19.Answers.com